The First Time Douglas Gresham Read the Screenplay for The Silver Chair

Posted February 27, 2018 6:49 pm by Glumpuddle

Gresham and Stratton (in costume as Nurse)

Nicole Stratton, Artistic Director at the Logos Theatre, recently talked about her experience working with Douglas Gresham (step-son of C.S. Lewis) on scripts for their Narnia stage productions. During a livestream on the Narnia Fans Facebook page, she was asked if she knew anything about The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair movie.

“[Gresham] had somebody for Jill,” Stratton said. “Looking at somebody very seriously for Jill.” (36:05) She did not specify when that conversation took place.

She also told the story of the first time Gresham read the script (36:36)…

According to Stratton, “people” from the production presented the script to Gresham in a restaurant and they were “hiding” when he walked in (out of nervousness). They carefully watched his reaction as he read every page. There was a certain scene involving Puddleglum that Gresham mandated had to be included or else he would not green-light the movie. (Based on past comments, we can assume it was Puddleglum’s famous speech from chapter 12). As the scene neared, Gresham stopped reading and began praying. “And then,” Stratton said, “the Spirit said to him to turn the page.” And on the next page, Gresham saw the scene.

“He told us [The Silver Chair] was one of the best scripts he had seen for the movies.”

Last we heard, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair will hopefully begin production later this year.

Listen to our exclusive interview with The Silver Chair screenwriter, David Magee.

I’m hoping that my favorite scene from the book will be in the movie and that’s Aslan’s Speech to Jill at the cliff, I love that scene.
If there’s one scene from the book I don’t want in the movie, it would be the part where they sliced off the Snake’s head, that is Not for kids to see! I want her death be less graphic that’s not gonna give children nightmares. I also don’t want it be like in Harry Potter where he stabbed the snake through the roof of its mouth, I don’t want that either.

I’m glad the script is looking good and that Puddleglum’s speech is more or less confirmed (also I kind of hope Benedict Cumberbatch will play him, which would give the movie a little star power and draw in people who haven’t read the books). Hope we’ll get more news soon!